DORSET WOMENS LEAGUE
SUNDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2016
VERWOOD TOWN LADIES 6 GILLINGHAM TOWN LADIES 1

Verwood lined up in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation: Jo - Larissa,Kerry,Sharon,Kirsty - Millie,Karla - Sophie,Lowri,Shevvy - Liegh
Subs: Megan & Angus

The game started brightly for Verwood, pinning Gillingham back for the first 10 minutes. Shevvy went close (a lot), and Leigh struggled to find her range. The quality of passing the girls showed and the determination to win the ball back ensured complete domination.

The rugged determination paid off eventually and Verwood took the lead from a Gillingham own goal, not long before the referee blew the whistle for a quick drink break half way through the first 45.

Gillingham showed they were no pushovers and played some good football once play resumed. Their persistence was rewarded as they hit Verwood on the break, just staying onside to collect a forward pass, which was coolly slotted past Jo who had no chance of stopping the well-paced shot. This galvanised Verwood into performing as they did in the opening 20. Shevvy went close many times before Leigh finally found her shooting boots and fired Verwood into the lead once more after a fantastic run by Shevvy on the left.

Karla, who controlled the game from her deep midfield position, kept the Verwood machine running, linking everyone together with her fine passing. It was a long diagonal ball that found Sophie on the right, who played a quick pass through to Lowri. Leigh made a dash to the far post, taking the Gillingham defence with her. Seeing the gap opening up in front of her, Lowri played a through ball that Sophie picked up and scored a third goal for Verwood.

Megan made her debut, replacing Millie in Midfield and put in a terrific performance. The few times Gillingham got past the resolute Midfield, the defence were equal to everything. Larissa, Kerry, Sharon and Kirsty have formed what appears to be an impenetrable shield in front of Jo, who had a very quiet game after the Gillingham goal.

Angus replaced Lowri, as Sophie moved to the central position and Angus took her place on the Right and helped maintain the momentum that Verwood had built.

Half time and Verwood looked good for the lead.

Second half started with Megan on the Right, Sophie in the advanced midfield position and Millie back on to partner Karla.

Second half was all Verwood, with Karla orchestrating everything in the game. Millie played off Karla exceptionally well, covering, making herself available to receive a pass and hardly let a player beat her to the ball all game.

The forward line of Shevvy, Sophie, Megan and Leigh was at its most impressive during the second half and it wasn't long before Leigh hit the back of the net again to make it 4.

Lowri replaced Millie in Midfield to keep the team fresh and maintain the momentum Verwood had built and was instrumental in the very fine passing and entertaining football Verwood was displaying. After a few minutes rest, Millie returned to the action, replacing Larissa at Right Back.

The football from Verwood was getting better and better. Patient, passing football that ensured Gillingham saw less and less of the ball. The patience paid off, when Sophie scored the 5th for Verwood and putting the game beyond Gillingham.

The 6th goal was really something special to seal the game. Pin point precision passing from the back through the midfield, to the forwards, finally finding Liegh, who took the ball out to the left of the penalty area, and struck the ball high, which looped over the Gillingham keeper. Amazing team goal and a very special finish.

Angus replaced Shevvy and Larissa replaced Kirsty for the final 10, both ensuring Gilligham had no way through the left flank.

Jo unwittingly picked up a back pass to add a little drama to the game, but the defence dealt with the resulting free kick efficiently.

The dying moments, Karla had a free kick not far outside the area, but it unfortunately went over. A terrific result and an even more impressive display of organised, patient and passing football. Well done Verwood Ladies! It was a really entertaining game and a pleasure to watch.

Final Score 6-1

How the players fared:
Jo: Had a quiet game, but came off her line to great effect. Had no chance for the Gillingham goal. Very assured game.
Kirsty: Solid as ever and a menacing threat going forward. Went close a couple of times with long range efforts and her passing was very accurate.
Sharon: Led the team with determination and ensured the team kept their shape throughout. Always reliable to clear the lines and first to every through ball Gillingham attempted.
Kerry: A very competent defensive display and a very high passing success rate, building play from the back well.
Larissa: Settled into the team seamlessly and is now an integral part of the defensive quartet that at times looks impenetrable.
Shevvy: Made some terrific runs and got into some fantastic positions. Increased her assist tally for the season and had lots of chances to get her name on the scoresheet.
Lowri: Solid and dependable performance as we have come to expect. Very unlucky not to get on the score sheet herself, but played a big part on nearly all of Verwood's build up phases.
Sophie: Tenacious and technically superb as her positioning, passing, first touch and finishing marks her out to be a star player.
Liegh: A goal machine. Took a little time to get going, but once she did, there was no holding her back. Amazing finish for the 6th goal, which will be a contender for goal of the season.
Subs -
Megan: A very impressive debut. Had a couple of chances herself and provided her team mates with opportunities and options throughout the game. We are looking forward to seeing her play in the game to follow.
Angus: Solid performance and passing was spot on. Created a couple of chances and was a threat going forward.

Player of the Match as chosen by the representative from our Match Day Sponsor, Warborne Gamers Club: - Karla, the boss in midfield. Controlled everything Verwood did, but also controlled everything Gillingham did as she was solid in Midfield, making them try to play around her and her passing, particularly her long diagonal balls to the wings were accurate and forced Gillingham to reposition their team quickly, causing confusion in their defence.